Escape from the arctic

Well, February in Chicago with a baby = CABIN FEVER....so we decided another Florida trip was just what we needed. We went to Orlando for Valentines weekend and Pablo returned on Monday for work...I was booked on a flight to return Wednesday, but after Jackson did just as well there as he does at home sleeping (note: I did not say he slept "well" :)) I decided to stay the week in St Pete. Pablo came back on Friday and we spent another weekend in Orlando. It was a wonderful trip...spending so much time with family and in the sunshine was good for all of us. Jackson may have been born in the midwest...but no doubt he's a southern boy. He loves to be outside! Warning: this is a really long post with lots and lots of pictures...I couldn't help it. We just had such a great time!

(Random note here - we had a follow up with the pediatric surgeon yesterday and our chunker is just over 16lbs...that's a whole pound in 2 weeks...I've said it before and I'll say it again - preemie my foot! :))

Happy 1st Valentine's Day from Grandma! She spoiled him as usual with fun toys and wonderful books. It was fun to see him 'open' his present this time because now he actually plays with the tissue paper.

Grandma's big boy...all dressed and ready for the big barbeque

Jackson's latest favorite expression...fishy face! Bethany giving him a little superman lift.

Definitely the center of attention!

Family shot in the sun

Grandpa Walter sure knows how to get a smile!

Heading to St Pete!

Papa D with the kiddos

Kennedy & Jackson ready for one of many walks during the week. Oh how we miss our walks with Aunt Les and cousin Kennedy!

Hanging out on the hammock...Kennedy and her cousin "Ja-shun" are already good buds

Aunt Les with Jackson...maybe where he got those baby blues from? He loves to nuzzle...presses his little face right up against yours when you hold him...so sweet.

Uncle Brian did a lot of entertaining Jackson in the evenings when he is crankiest (Jackson, not Brian :))...thanks B!!

How sweet is this picture? Les & Kennedy played on the playground while Jackson and I kept walking around and around (mostly to keep him napping)...I looked up and saw this and couldn't resist capturing it. These two are certainly peas in a pod!

A far cry from what mealtime looks like at home!!

Back to Orlando again!

After just a few days away, Grandma already had 2 new toys...Jackson loved his bouncer. We couldn't get over what a big boy he was in it!

Daddy and son reunited after a whole 4 days apart...oh how they missed eachother! It's funny how seeing Jackson every day makes us not really realize how much he grows and changes. Pablo couldn't believe how much he grew, how much more hair he had and how much louder his cry sounded after a few days of peace and quiet...haha.

Jackson got to spend a lot of time with Uncle Carlos and Bethany this time...just hanging out here

Our visit with Aunt Lori was way too short, but oh so sweet.


Heading back home! Jackson has done so well on his 4 flights so far...we were a little nervous about this one because he doesn't sleep nearly as much as he did for our last trip. But he did great...slept a little, ate and played the whole time. Only a few minutes of crying (which, of course, seemed like an eternity to his mama at the time...but the fellow passengers commenting on how good our baby is made us swell with pride.)

Jackson's 4th Month

We can't believe our little man is 4 months old already! He has definitely found his voice and is cooing like crazy..he makes this one sound all the time that sounds like 'Whoa!'. It cracks us up. He loves to lay on his back and grab his toes...he also 'stands' on our laps with very minimal support...he'll be walking any day now :) We read books every day as we have since the beginning..but now he actually looks at the pages and smiles at them. He is figuring out his exersaucer quickly...we're looking forward to that being a nice distraction while we eat dinner! He gave us one 10 hour night recently and it was heaven! Other than that, sleep in general continues to be a challenge in our house, but as long as he keeps growing and smiling, we won't complain too much (well, I'm not making promises). I don't think any of the pictures here do justice to the color of his eyes, but they are a gorgeous dark blue...I know, I know, they could still change. But I'm hoping he ends up with his Mama J's (my mom) eyes...

All bundled up for a stroll out in the cold...

Such a flirt already...getting to know his buddy Merritt Risher

One of Jackson's many funny faces these days...oh how we love to blow bubbles!

Who would want to ride in a stroller when Daddy's chest is so much more comfy...

One of our favorite games...he loves to have his cheeks 'gobbled'..he squeals every time. Kind of a silly picture, I know...but what else do stay at home Moms do during the day than try to make their little ones laugh and capture it on film?? :)

The mess begins! At Jackson's 4 month check up, our pediatrician gave us the green light to try solids...I'm thinking he's pretty liberal, since unlike many of the books say, he said it was fine to try any fruits, veggies or cereals at this point. Man has this been fun...and messy :)

This was actually BEFORE the doc appt...we got a wild hair (or should I say Pablo finally convinced his ever-so-cautious-and-paranoid wife to give it a go) and gave him a little mushed up banana...he loved it!!

Sweet potatoes!

Rice cereal...although, this very happy face is deceiving..Daddy was just making him smile here...he isn't such a fan of the rice cereal.

His favorite so far...pears!

The 4 month photo shoot wasn't nearly as successful as last months...I tried 2 different days, pulling out all the stops to get a smile..and while I got a few, I failed to catch one on film. Our big boy was 15lbs 1oz and 25" long...in the 50th percentile for both. He's growing so fast and certainly keeping us on our toes!